Method or process of finishing moldings.



PAIBNTEDZ SEPT. 19, 1905. G. P. RBUHL.

METHOD 0R PROCESS OF FINISHING MOLDINGS.

APPLICATION FILED 1530.28, 1904,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 000,017. PATEHTED SEPT. 19, 1005. 0.. P.- REUHL. METHOD OR PROCESS OF FINISHING moLnIIIes.

APPLIUATIGK FILED DEO.28,1904.

4 SHEETSSHBET 2.

Win/asses [Mk/1w WM a I No. 800,017. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

G. P. REUHL.

METHOD 0R "PROCESS OF FINISHING MOLDINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.28,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WiZILGSSC /S. v [aye 1,2507".

UNITED STATES QEORGE P. REUHL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

METHOD OR PROCESS OF FINISHING MOLDINGS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed December 28, 1904- Serial No. 238,662.

mirrors, photographs, or the like andthe lat:

ter attached to the walls of rooms for supporting the hooks from which pictures or the like are hung; and it is the object of my invention to provide a new and improved method or process for finishing moldings of this character whereby steps heretofore necessary in producing an article of this character may be dispensed with, whereby the time within which the molding is finished is materially reduced and a superior article provided.

It has been a desideratum in producing certain classes of molding to imitate so-called gold-leaf that is, molding which has been finished by the application of gold-leaf to the surface of the molding. The methods heretofore employed have resulted in but a poor imitation thereof.

By my new and improved process the goldleaf finish may be closely imitated in vastly cheaper materials, while at the same time operations upon the stock, heretofore necessary, may be entirely dispensed with and a superior article produced Within a comparatively short time.

In order that my new and improved process may be properly understood, it may be advisable to describe a method now in common use for finishing moldings, which is as follows: After the molding has been properly machined and provided with its body of whitening-zl a, is what is known in the trade as in the white.it is necessary to provide the molding so in the white with a primingcoating of spirit-varnishin order to make the molding impervious to the subsequent coatings and bronze placed thereon, giving the molding one, two, or/inorecoats, depending on the character/of stock and finish to be obtained. After each coat it is necessary to carefully rack? the molding, care being taken to keep the pieces of molding out of contact with each other, this racking being necessary to permit each coat to thoroughly dry before the application of the subsequent coat. After the molding has been provided with the necessary priming-coats it is provided with acoat of oil, which may take the form of oil-varnish, and again racked to permit the oil to dry to a proper state of viscousness or tackiness for properly receiving the bronze in the shape of powder or leaf. The time of application of bronze must be determined to a nicety, as if the oil is still in too liquid a state the bronze will not be properly spread, resultin in streaks and blotches, and if the oil has become too dry the bronze will not properly adhere to the molding, each condition resulting in differences in appearance in the molding, and in practice in making a lot of molding there is usually quite a difference in appearance and color between the first part of the lot and the ,last part of the lot finished, because the oil has become tacky in different degrees in different parts of the lot at the time of the application of the bronze thereto. After the application of the bronze it is again necessary to rack the pieces of molding to allow them to thoroughly dry, after which they are provided with one or more final coats of shellac or lacquer for preventing tarnishing of or injury to the bronze, each coat requiring an additional racking and the necessary time for drying. It will thus be seen that the application of each priming-coat, the application of the oil, of the bronze, and of each protecting-coat requires a separate handling of the stock, a separate racking, and a separate time for permitting the molding to dry. By these steps the smooth face of the molding is finished. If the molding is provided with ornaments, these ornaments must be separately treated in similar manner.

In my new and improved process I dispense with the preliminary coatings, the oiling, the protecting-coats, with the various rackings incident thereto, and save the time necessary in drying each coat, dispense with the various handlings of the stock necessary for those operations, and finish the smooth part and the ornamented part of the molding at one and the same operation.

In my new and improved process I subject the molding to the action of a pneumatic atomizer, by which powdered bronze fluXed with suitable liquid carrying, adhering, and protecting mediums is applied to the molding in highly-comminuted state and preferably treat the pressure medium for the atomizerthe pipe 35.

and the molding coated by the atomizer in manner hereinafter stated.

As illustrating a mechanism by means of which my improved method or process may be employed, 1 have in the drawings shown a construction capable of performing my process, in which- Figure 1 represents a diagram view of the mechanism, partly broken away. Fig. 2isa side elevation of the atomizer-casing and drying-chamber, the sides of the same being removed for better illustration of parts. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away. Fig. i is a cross-section of the atomizer-casing on the line {v of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the drying-chamber on the line 1 1/ of Fig. l, and Fig. 6 is a detail of an atomizer-head and manner of mounting same.

1 represents an atomizer-head, of which there may be any suitable number suitably disposed, as in a casing A. The head has a branch 2, in which there is a pressure-tube 3, having a pressure-tip 4:, and a branch 5, in which there is acoating-tube 6, havingacoating-tip 7, the tips being relatively adjustable. The head is adjustably supported on a trunnion 8, to which it is clamped by a bolt 9. The trunnion is on a plate 10, adjustable on a shelf 11, as by means of a bolt 12, taking through a slot 13 in the plate and into the shelf. The shelf is on a post 14:, adjustable in an aperture 15 in the frame 16 of the casing and secured in adjusted position by a bolt 17. The pressure-tube 3 connects with a pressuretank 21 by flexible pipe 22, a stop-cock 23 regulating or shutting off pressure. The coating-tube 6 connects with a coating-pipe 25 by means of aflexible pipe 26, the pipe 25 taking into a flux-receptacle 27 and into the flux therein.

I have shown the molding (represented at B) as arranged to pass the atomizer as by the action of a feeding device C, comprising a feeding-roll 28, suitably propelled and located outside the casing, the molding passing through the casing and while passing therethrough beingsubjected to the action of the atomizing apparatus. The atomizers are shown as arranged on both sides of the table 29, supporting the molding. The arrangement and adjustments of the atomizers permit the flux to be applied to the various parts of the molding in suitable proportion. In order to keep the flux properly agitated, I prefer to lead a pipe 31, having apertures 32, into the receptacle 27, the pipe 31 communicating with a pipe 33, having a valve 3% therein communicating with a pipe 35, having connection with the pressure-tank, a valve 36 being in There may be any suitable number of receptacles 27, preferably a pinrality of the same on each side of the table 29, a separate pipe communicating with the receptacles on each side.

The pressure-tank is fed by a compressor D, and I also prefer to cause the pressure medium to pass through a filter and a moisture-removingdevice for delivering the pressure medium, as compressed air, to the atomizer-tip in filtered dry state, preferably without heating the same, for obtaining the best results and causing proper action thereof upon the flux, as hereinafter explained.

I have shown the-moisture-removing device and filter as comprised within a case 4C1, containinga box 42. The box 42 has a perforated or screen bottom and contains a body 44, of a moisture absorbing medium-such as lime, chlorid of lime, wool, cotton, linen, or other medium answering the purpose whether such action be mechanical or chemical. The box is slidable on rollers 45, and a door 46 in the casing allows withdrawal of the box and renewal of the moisture-absorbing medium. An intake-pipe 4:7 communicates with the case under the box. The box has a close fit with the case and door 46 for compelling the air to pass through the box. A series of screens 51 are in the case above the box and have close connection therewith for compelling the pressure medium to pass therethrough and may be supported on suitable lugs 52, a door 53 permitting access to the screens. These screens are of successively finer mesh from bottom to top for screening and arresting the impurities that may be suspended in the pressure medium. Thus the lower screen may be of wire-cloth of, say, seventy mesh and the upper one of the finest mesh bolting-silk. A pipe 55 connects the box and the compressor for conducting the dried and screened air to the latter, and a pipe 56 connects the compressor D with a reservoir E for the compressed pressure medium. A pipe 57 connects the reservoir with the pressure-tank 21 and has a valve 58 therein. It is of course obvious that the order of drying, screening, and compressing the pressure medium may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

For removing dust that may be created in the casing an exhausting device, such as a fan- 'blower 59, may be provided, the same connecting with an opening 60 at each end of the casing by pipes 61, in which there may be dampers 62, care being taken, however, to avoid detrimental cross-currents inside the casing.

The receptacles 27contain the flux to be applied to the molding. This flux comprises powdered bronze and suitable carrying, ad-

hering, and protecting mediums for the bronze particles. It is so constituted and applied as to prevent detrimental absorption by the whitening of the molding, to cause proper adherence thereof to the molding, and to provide a protecting-coat for the bronze when dry to prevent tarnishing of the bronze. It

preferably comprises powdered bronze, oil,

alcohol, and shellac. An advisable flux is the following: To one gallon of commercial amyl four pounds of dry shellac in flake, plate, or

powdered state and thoroughly dissolved and mixed, constituting a shellac-varnish. I then take eight fluid ounces of the above-mentioned amyl-acetate solution of guncotton, one fluid ounce of said shellac-varnish, and eight fluid ounces of alcohol (commercial wood-alcohol) and thoroughly mix the same, which constitutes the liquid carrying, adhering, and protecting medium for the powdered bronze, of

which carrying, adhering, and protecting medium I use sixteen fluid ounces with two avoirdupois ounces of powdered bronze and thoroughly miX by agitation, forming a bronze The bronze fluX is introduced into the receptacles and by action of the pneumatic atomizer is projected from the atomizer-tip in highly-comminuted state and in such manner that the particlesof bronze are enveloped in a coat or capsule of the liquid carrying, adhering, and protecting medium, each capsule having in it the properties of preventing undue absorption of the same by the whitening of the molding, of adhering to the molding and to each other, and of protecting its enveloping bronze from the atmosphere or contamination by handling of the stock after it is finished, the bronze flux, owing to the action of the pneumatic atomizer thereon, giving to the moldingwhen the fluxis applied by the pneumatic atomizer theappearance of a finely-granular surface in close imitation of the finest gold-leaf application. The pressure medium of the pneumatic atomizer acts on the bronze-inclosing capsules in such manner as to partially vaporize or dry the same in their passage from the atomizer tip to the molding, rendering the same tacky and of such consistency as to readily adhere to the whitening-surface of the molding without being absorbed thereby and to adhere to each other, depositing each bronze-inclosing capsule separatelyupon the molding, the further subjection of the capsule after depositing to the action of the pneumatic blast drying the same still further. The bronzeinclosing capsules being piled upon each other after they have been rendered tacky by the action of the pneumatic blast and the lower layers having been still further dried by that blast results in the finely-granular effect of the surface of the finish, and the continued subjection of the molding to the action of the pneumatic blast during deposition of the bronze-containing capsules results in substantial drying of the finish during its application, and, if desired, the molding may be subjected to the action of one or more blasts of the pressure medium disconnected from the fluxreceptacles,as see the atomizer-heads 1, which have their flux tubes removed. Filtering the pressure medium and drying the same by absorption of moisture or devaporizing the pressure medium delivers the pressure medium to the atomizer for performing the functions with highest efficiency, and the results stated may be obtained in performing the process by passing a pneumatic atomizer manually over the molding or by performing it by mechanical agencies. In my improved process the bronze capsules are rendered sufliciently tacky. between the atomizer-tip and molding to produce and retain the granular surface or finish on the molding until .the molding is thoroughlydry.

In order to give the molding a hard finish, I subject the coated molding to a drying action in suitable manner, preferably by subjecting it to the action of a heated drying agency, this being preferably the first stage in the process in which heat is employed. This drying action may be accomplished by passing the molding through a drying-chamber. I have shown asuitabledrying-chamber at F, shown broken away and which may be of any desirable length, into which the coated molding is arranged to pass from the casing A and through which it may be automatically fed by a series of live rollers 65, suitably operated, as by means of sprocket-chains 66 taking over sprocketwheels 67 68 on the roller-shafts 69 and driven by a pulley 7 O on one of said shafts. Pipes 7 3 7 L in the chamber are fed from the compressor, as by being connected with a feed-pipe 75, having a valve 7 6 and connecting with the reservoir E. Nozzles 7 7 having universal joint 78 with the pipes 73 74, respectively, are arranged to be directed in desired direction and point upon the molding. The drying medium is preferably subjected to heat, as by passing the feedpipe 75 in the form of a coil 79 through a heater 80, heated in suitable manner by steam or otherwise.

By my new and improved process the molding in the white is finished in one operation and by only one handling of the stock, and the smooth part and the ornamental part of the molding are simultaneously finished, requiring only the one handling and producing a superior article free from streaks, blotches, runs, and blemishes and requiring no separate protecting coating, shellacking, or lacquering, and the stock may be at once handled after finishing, requiring no separate racking or loss of time and producing stock in finished condition within minimum time.

By my new and improved process peculiarlyeftective blendings of colors may be obtained, preferably by having a plurality of atomizerheads spraying different colors upon the stock at the same time.

pneumatically-atomized form to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus for reducing said mixture to a fine spray of fiuxed particles comprising bronze-containing capsules of said carrying, adhering and protecting medium and rendering the said capsules tacky between the atomizing apparatus and molding and permitting said capsules to dry as applied to the molding by said pneumatic atomizing apparatus for producing a granular surface to the finish, substantially as described.

2. The method or process of finishing molding consisting in mixing powdered bronze with a liquid carrying-and adhering medium and applying said mixture to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus fed by a filtered pressure medium for comminuting said mixture and rendering the particles thereof tacky between the atomizing apparatus and molding for producing a granular surface to the finish of said molding.

3. The method or process of finishing mold ing consisting in spraying said molding with a bronze-containing flux by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus fed by a filtered pressure medium having moisture absorbed therefrom and subjecting said sprayed molding to the action of a drying medium, substantially as described.

4. The method or process of finishing molding, which consists in mixing powdered bronze with a liquid carrying and adhering medium, and applying said mixture to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus fed by a filtered pressure medium from which moisture has been removed by absorption.

5. .The method or process of finishing molding, consisting in mixing powdered bronze with amyl-acetate solution of guncotton, shellacvarnish and alcohol, and applying said mixture to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus substantially as described.

6. The method or process of finishing mold-- ing, consisting in mixing powdered bronze with amyl-acetate solution of guncotton, shellac-varnish and alcohol, and applying said mixture to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus and then subjecting said coated molding to the action of a heated drying medium, substantially as described. 7 The method or process of finishing molding, consisting in mixing powdered bronze with amyl-acetate solution of guncotton, shellac-varnish and alcohol, agitating said mixture, and applying said agitated mixture to the molding by means of pneumatic atomizing apparatus, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name hereto in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. REUHL.

Witnesses:

HENRY N. BAUER, FRED ABEL. 

